TB Joshua’s Church To Be Shut Down? (See Why)

Reactions keep tracking the last Friday collapse of the building belonging to the Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN). The 2-storey building later transformed into a 6-storey construction fell down on September 12 leaving at least 80 people dead, many injured and trapped under the rubble.

Week after the tragedy the question regarding the reason of collapse remains unanswered.

The church founder Pastor T.B. Joshua claims it was an attack and provides the video showing some aircraft hovering above the building before the collapse. Meanwhile the Lagos State Government (LASG) say they did not give the approval for reconstruction.

YNaija reports with the reference to the recent statement by the LASG that the authorities insist on their position that the erection of extra structures was illegal.

According to Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olutoyin Ayinde, said the state government was in process of incident preliminary investigation and will leave nothing unturned to unravel the cause of the tragedy.

Expressing condolences to the families of the victims, the Commissioner said the experts were taking samples from the foundation and materials from the wreckage for detailed examination.

The official also added that while the investigation is ongoing, the church would not be shut down. Based on the outcome, it will be decided what steps should be taken.

Regarding the aircraft allegedly flying above the building on the fateful day, Ayinde assured that the Ministry had already directed the provided recordings to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The professional comments by the bode are yet expected.

On the controversial character of the situation the Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on the Environment, Tobun Abiodun, alleged that some government officials were apparently influenced to have allowed the illegal construction.

“But my concern is that we have town planning officers that should supervise buildings in the state, they are accomplices. There is no way someone would build a six-storey building instead of four and they would say they were not aware. I believe that they compromised standard.”

Meanwhile it was yesterday learnt from the official website of the SCOAN that the church used to have 3 different locations in the past and had history of collapses. According to the available data, “the first church was blown off by a storm, the second church was washed away by a flood while the third church also collapsed due to severe weather conditions”.